The semi-weekly fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1887-11-04
VIGILANTES And OUTLAWS.
A Fierce Fight with DeSpera-
does in the Indian Territory.
The Vigilantes Have Eight Men
Killed and Eight Wounded.

A special dispatch from Wawolla, Indian
Territory, says: lon Thursday a desperate
fight took place on the north fork of the Ar
kansas River between Budd Trainers gang
of outlaws and vigilance committee under
the leadership of Robert Henderson, Scotch
half breed which followed them from Duck
worth's store, in the Creek Nation, on the occa-
sion of raid there on Wednesday The out
law finding out the size of the force which was
following them, decided to risk encounter,
and made haste to reach the river banks,
where they could find shelter behind trees
and In ravines which line the banks on either
side. In this they succeeded so well that
when the vigilanteS came up they were en-
tirely, for the time, atthe mercy of two score
of outlaws
Henderson then took his men a short dis
lance up the river where a fordng place could
be found, crossed and took up positions on
the other side of the stream from the out
laws and where his men were well pro-
tected as those of Trainer. The river at this
point is only about one hundred yards wide,
and across this distance, from Thursday
morning until Thursday night, bullets were
singing on their mission of death.
When the vigilantes had succeeded in OBJ
tanning this position they found they had
lost three men and two more were seriously
wounded. As Trainer found the enemy in
his rear on the opposite of the river, he sent
half of his men down the stream to cross and
come up on the other side, fighting under
cover Of the trees. In this they were sur
prised by the avengers, who met them half
way and opened fire upon Them checking
their course and driving them panic-stricken
and precipitately back. In endeavoring to
rally his men, Bill Chuet was killed, and be-
fore the river could be reached and forded
John Leech, one of the rObber gang, was shot
off horse, but not killed.
The fight from this on continued across
the stream, the banks of which were lined at
distances of about five rods apart with sharp
shooters. No sooner was head, arm or any
part of body visible on either side than a
1eaden bullet was seeking to find Judgment
therein.
AS Thursday night was coming on, Hen
when it was found that of his force eight
were killed and eight had received
serious though not fatal wounds. The
force was in this way reduced one
half, and it was thought best to remove the
wounded here and go back home and stir up
reinfOrcementS. The dead were buried and
the wounded, it was found after dressing
their wounds, were able to return home with
the rest of the party 1t is thought as many
of the outlaws were killed as of the pursuing
party, though this will never be known.
The following is list of the killed:
James Saunders, Oaks, Cherokee Nation,
Cherokee Nation, shot through the body;
Bedrock Chaplin, Lukfa, Choctaw Nation,
shot in five places; Bushy Sakaswa, Patrick,
Cherokee Nation, shot through body; Chief
Parr, Oaks, Cherokee Nation, shot in the
head Samuel H. Elleter, Eufaula, Creek
Nation, shot twice in body; Walter Aims
worth, ranger, from near Mackogee; Oar
ling Price, settler, from near Camp Creek,
Cherokee Nation.
Henry Ayres, a well-to-do man from Chero-
kee Nation, who was one of the party with
Henderson, says that Bud Trainer was killed
during the fight. He is of opinion that not
less than fifteen were killed outright upon
both Sides and thinks one-half the outlaws
who were not killed were wounded. 1t is by
no means certain that another party will be
organized to hunt down the outla WIS, as it is
thought the severe lesson they have been
taught will tend to drive them from the Ter
ritory, or at least to put quietus on their
lawleSSneSS